Two Years Since Doman...

This photo was taken two years ago in July of 2007. I was just looking into starting a home child care business, which is when, in doing research for preschool activities at the library, I accidentally came across the Doman books.

These girls in our pool are our neighbors, the same ones Hunter plays with frequently, and I was babysitting them. The baby is Anthony. Isn't it amazing how much all four of them have grown?

"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

John 4:14

Hunter is 4 years, 4 months old

Bahrain

Hunter's letter to Brandon:

Brandon, I colored this flag
of Bahrain for you. It looks like
the flag of Qatar. I colored a map
too. The sand is yellow. I am glad
you are home now. Love, Hunter

Bahrain is a little island of the coast of Saudi Arabia. While we were printing out geography coloring pages for the next two years (flags and maps) we printed out this of Bahrain, too, where Brandon was for about a year and a half. We have been learning about it and reading about it. He was very careful to color the map a brownish-yellow, because "there's sand there". When we were finding the flag of Bahrain on his geography wall, he was careful to point out that it looked a lot like the flag of Qatar.

He did really good at coloring, he was especially careful with the map, with all the little crevices around the islands. It's so fun now that he's old enough to write letters, is getting better at talking on the phone, etc. It'll really be an asset for staying in touch with friends and family, even from the other side of the country.

"For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven"

Job 28:24

Hunter is 4 years, 4 months old

The Lollipop Song

One of the long-awaited projects we've taken on recently is that of finally converting the many VHS tapes, cassette tapes, and vinyl albums to CDs and DVDs to take with us when we move. Today we dug up a bunch of kid's vinyl albums from the 60s and have been listening to them while they burn to CD. The boys have loved listening to all the fun music. They all loved the lollipop song (especially Jordan). It was pretty funny to see them all dancing around, and Hunter with his cape that he made today. They sure have a big imagination.

"They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ."

Job 21:11-12

Hunter is 4 years, 4 months old  

Dare Devil

"Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear."

Job 41:33

Hunter is 4 years, 4 months old

At the fair (mobile blogging)

At the fair (mobile blogging)

Hunter is 4 years, 4 months old

Looking at Air Force display at the library

Looking at Air Force display at the library (mobile blogging)

Hunter is 4 years, 3 months old

Algebra

We have a magnetic whiteboard that has recently become my best friend.

We've had it for a long time and it has actually been stored next to Hunter's dresser for several months now, but we never used it. It was covered in magnetic alphabet letters (not the ones shown around the border, but the 3D kind) with the intention of using it for reading games, yet it never got taken out.

Recently, however, while I was doing a major room re-organization, I took all the alphabet letters and put them in a large, clear jar, and they now sit decoratively (and functionally) on a low shelf for us to pull out when needed. I did the same thing to a set of magnetic numerals that we have. Ever since I did that, we have been using the whiteboard every day and I have really begun to like it.

We've been mostly using it for math. We have been using it to demonstrate equal fractions, and other simple arithmetic equations. And every morning, I have been laying out a simple algebra equation for him to solve when he wakes up. He loves the algebra equations and thinks they are hilarious. We get excited about finding the "mystery" of the silly "y". I write out the equation and then, to the side, put three multiple choices for him to pick from. The multiple choice not only helps it be a problem-solving opportunity versus a test, but it also helps him have a visual for the numeral he wants to write, as he is still getting used to writing all of his numerals.

But, I really love this board recently, and we have also been using it for reading, drawing, and illustrating anything that may come up, whether it's a map of Abraham's journey or a picture from Hunter's imagination, it's easy to write it up and then wipe it off when you're done for unlimited use.

"...choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Joshua 24:15

Hunter is 4 years, 3 months old

Playing in the rain (mobile blogging)

Playing in the rain (mobile blogging)

Hunter is 4 years, 3 months old